It was clear that people had heard about the rally and what a great time everybody had because entries doubled for the 2008 event.

Take twenty intrepid crews in a variety of Italian cars, add 1250 kilometres of fabulous driver’s roads between Sydney and Melbourne, throw in a few questions to ensure that everyone follows the correct route, spice the whole lot up with plenty of gourmet Italian food, wine and camaraderie, then mix in a few surprises, and you have the recipe for three days of pure enjoyment that also provides opportunities to support some very worthwhile charities. Enter the Italian Connection Trophy touring assembly which was held on the weekend of 22 – 24 May and is now set to become an annual affair, such was the success of this year’s event.

With the benefit of Sydney suburb, Leichhardt supporting the event, the city’s mayor flagged competitors away at 10am on a rainy Sydney Friday, escorted on their way south by a flotilla of Italian cars, Fiats and Ferraris, Alfas and Abarths led by a Police escort and the Pace Car both brand new Fiat 500’s.